Is there poverty in the area?

That is the question being explored in a series of five community discussions.

"We are attempting to come to a common understanding of poverty in our community," said Martin Campos-Davis of WorkSource Columbia Gorge. "Not only an understanding, but also why we have folks living in poverty in our communities."

According to statistics from the 2000 census, 23.2 percent of families in Klickitat County who have children under 5 years of age are considered to be in poverty. For single mothers in Klickitat County, the rate jumps to 59.4 percent. The prevalence of poverty in Klickitat County is higher than the state average: In Washington as a whole, the poverty rates are 14.9 percent and 45.6 percent respectively.

Although there have been several Horizons community sessions already, a new one will be starting on Thursday, Feb. 22, from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., at the WorkSource Columbia Gorge office at 107 E. Jewett Blvd. in White Salmon.

To register, call 493-5020 or 493-5263, or simply drop in.

The Horizons program was made possible by a grant from the Northwest Area Foundation, and is being coordinated by the WSU Extension office.